New Hanover commissioners OK pay increase for ABC board

Monday

Feb 18, 2013 at 11:46 AM

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners approved a salary increase for members of the county ABC board.

By Ashley WithersAshley.Withers@StarNewsOnline.com

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners approved a salary increase for members of the county Alcohol Beverage Control Board Monday morning, doubling the chairman's monthly compensation to $300 and giving a $100 increase – to $250 a month – for the board's four other members.The commissioners voted 3-1 to approve the increase, with only Commissioner Brian Berger dissenting.Commissioner Thomas Wolfe recused himself from the vote. Wolfe served as chairman of the ABC board for just over two years. He stepped down from his leadership role after being appointed to serve as a commissioner, but remains on the ABC board.ABC board members must get permission from the commissioners to raise their salaries.Chairman Woody White raised some concerns over the difference in compensation between the ABC Board and other county oversight boards.Members of the county planning board can receive up to $20 per meeting, as can members of the county health board, and some county boards do not receive any compensation. The only comparable board with a higher stipend is the New Hanover County Airport Authority. The Airport Authority chairman makes a maximum of $350 per month and regular members make a maximum of $300 per month."There is an element of public service involved in serving on these boards and treating the ABC board a little differently, I'm not comfortable with that," White said. "It concerns me with the inconsistencies ... I don't understand that, but it does not take away from the good work your board has done."The ABC board's current pay limit was set in October 2010 following an investigation by the StarNews that revealed exorbitant salaries, violations of the state bidding and public records laws, nepotism, lack of written procedures and the supervisor's use of taxpayer money to pay a contractor who did work on his home.The investigation led to inquiries around the state, the dismissal of a number of ABC board members and new laws governing local boards. These new laws gave the commissioners more authority over the local ABC board.Since the changes have been made and new ABC board members and administrators have taken over, the New Hanover County ABC has become one of the most profitable in the state. It is third in the state for gross sales and operating dollars, as well as second in operating profit percentages, but officials said the board was last in total board member compensation.Commissioner Jonathan Barfield said that after witnessing the changes this ABC board has made since the controversy he is "definitely in favor" of the increase. With the increases in profits in recent years, Barfield said the ABC board has "more than made up for any difference in the salary they're asking for."